MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Only three points separated the Olivet Nazarene University women's volleyball team from the Cardinal Stritch Wolves in a 3-1 defeat, falling 21-25, 23-25. 25-20, 25-27 Tuesday night.

After dropping the first and second sets, the Tigers rallied for a big third-set victory. Three straight kills from Halle Nicholas were followed up by back-to-back Techiya Jackson kills that closed out the set and swing a bit of momentum in ONU's favor.

Following the set win, the Tigers seemed determined to force a decisive fifth set. Trailing 23-20 late in the fourth set, a kill from Kaylee Cozen was followed up by a big block from Jackson and Ella Johnson, and then a kill from Nicholas knotted up the set at 23-all.

Stritch's Sydney Hoffman would put away a kill to put the Wolves at match point, but Nicholas had the answer with a kill of her own. Cardinal Stritch got it back to match point the following play, but again the resilient Tigers had the answer, this time coming off the hand of Jackson.

However, when the Wolves retook the lead on the next point, the Tigers were out of answers as Cardinal Stritch scored a kill to end the match in the fourth set.

The loss moves ONU to 5-3 in the CCAC and slides them down to sixth in the conference standings.

GAME VITALS

Final: First Set: CSU 25, ONU 21 | Second Set: CSU 25, ONU 23 | Third Set: ONU 25, CSU 20 | Fourth Set: CSU 27, ONU 25

Records: Cardinal Stritch 10-9 (4-4 CCAC) | Olivet Nazarene 6-13 (5-3 CCAC)

Location: Panella Court | Cardinal Stritch University | Milwaukee, Wis.

QUICK HITS:

• Nicholas scored 19 kills on 48 total attacks, while also leading the team in digs with 13.

• Brianna Cannon was the only other Tiger with double-digit digs (18)

• Kielion (23) and Delbridge (18) both tallied double-digit assists.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers continue their conference road stretch with a match at Roosevelt Thursday night. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu